Nov. 26, 2025
Good day, and welcome to the Fairfax County NewsCenter podcast. Coming up, learn about the 50th anniversary of Fairfax County's 1975 Countywide Comprehensive Plan, a new strategic plan for the Office to Prevent and End Homelessness, 2025 holiday gift giving guide and food insecurity. Links to topics mentioned in this podcast can be found online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov.
Past and present planning commissioners, planning directors, staff and task force members joined the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 18 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Fairfax County's 1975 Countywide Comprehensive Plan. The board recognized the Planning Commission, the Department of Planning and Development and others who have helped guide how the county grows and changes over time. The Comprehensive Plan serves as Fairfax County's long-term guide for land use decisions. It outlines where and how development should occur, what kinds of projects are appropriate in different areas and how to balance growth with protecting the environment. The 1975 Countywide Comprehensive Plan marked a turning point as Fairfax evolved from a farming and suburban community into the diverse and vibrant place residents know today. Many of its original principles remain central to county planning, including focusing growth in activity centers, respecting established neighborhoods, reducing car dependence and safeguarding environmentally sensitive areas. Get all the details on NewsCenter; fairfaxcounty.gov/news.
Fairfax County’s Department of Housing and Community Development’s Office to Prevent and End Homelessness is beginning community engagement activities that will inform its next Strategic Plan. The Office will conduct an inclusive community engagement process, utilizing the Engage Fairfax County framework. Meetings, events, online surveys, and other engagement techniques will be used to collect input from all critical parties involved in preventing and ending homelessness. This includes people experiencing homelessness, homeless service providers, the Continuum of Care board, and the general public. It will also utilize local Fairfax County homeless data. The resulting information will inform recommended strategies that strengthen the community’s response to homelessness. The final report will be presented to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for their consideration in 2026. More information can be found on the Fairfax County website; just search “Office to Prevent and End Homelessness Begins New Strategic Planning Process.”
There are many ways to support your neighbors and community this holiday season. We’ve rounded up a list of giving opportunities right here in Fairfax County. NewsCenter has our 2025 holiday gift giving guide offers a variety of ways to donate to those in need this holiday season, from toy, clothing and food drives that will help so many in our community this year.
Speaking of holidays, despite being one of the wealthiest counties in the nation, hunger remains a concern for many in our community. The federal shutdown impacted numerous families, and with the holiday season and winter weather quickly approaching this issue may be top of mind for many residents. Approximately 256,000 people (adults and children) are food insecure in Fairfax County, according to the Capital Area Food Bank’s 2025 Hunger Report. The prevalence of food insecurity in Fairfax County is 26%, a slight decrease from 27% in 2024. The report notes that the data was collected prior to the federal shutdown and does not reflect the full impact of lost paychecks among federal workers. As a result, both the food insecurity rate and demand on emergency food providers may rise in the coming months. Learn more about hunger in Fairfax County and find ways to help others in need. Visit NewsCenter for the details; fairfaxcounty.gov/news.
Finally, subscribe to “Weekender,” the county’s weekend arts and entertainment e-newsletter. “Weekender” brings together offerings from around the county and delivers that info right to your inbox. Don’t miss out on fun happenings throughout the county. Subscribe to “Weekender” at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/weekender.
That’s all for this NewsCenter podcast. Thanks for listening. For more information about the topics in this podcast and for news updates, visit fairfaxcounty.gov/news. Follow the NewsCenter podcast on soundcloud.com/fairfaxcounty and our podcasts webpage, fairfaxcounty.gov/podcasts. You can also listen 24/7 online to Fairfax County Government Radio at fairfaxcounty.gov/radio. If you have questions, call 703-FAIRFAX, that’s 703-324-7329, weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or email publicaffairs@fairfaxcounty.gov. The NewsCenter podcast is produced by the Fairfax County, Va., Government.
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